BERLIN â€“ WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange was on the sharp end of some unwelcome exposures himself on Thursday as a former ally spilled the beans on the controversial Australian and his whistle-blowing organisation.

“Inside WikiLeaks” is billed as a warts-and-all account of Daniel Domscheit-Berg’s time as chief programmer and media spokesman for what his tell-all book calls “the world’s most dangerous website.”

Set for release in 16 countries from Friday, it says the “chaotic” WikiLeaks cannot protect its sources and accuses the “power-obsessed” Assange of being economical with the truth, according to leaked excerpts.

Domscheit-Berg, along with others, left WikiLeaks in September complaining that Assange was being autocratic and that the organisation, ironically for a group on a crusade for openness, was becoming excessively secretive.